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A dressage saddle is used by horse riders who want to learn the dressage discipline. It has a deep seat and longer stirrups designed to keep riders sitting deeper to be in closer contact with the horse. It also keeps the rider in a more upright sitting position.

A close contact saddle as its name implies, offers the tightest possible contact with a horse. It has minimal or no knee rolls with a flattened seat. This saddle is commonly used for show riding and jumping where it is very important for the rider to have the most precise control over the horse. Riders using this saddle actually spend minimal time sitting on it and are most often in the two-point jumping position or in the half sitting position used for hard galloping. Due to the nature of the saddle, it is best avoided by amateurs and should be left to skilled riders.

An all purpose saddle is useful to amateur riders who are still getting the proper feel of horse riding and jumping. It has a deep seat with large knee rolls and is generally cut forward for jumping. The larger knee rolls help beginners adjust to the proper leg position while riding.

An equitation saddle is used to keep most of the rider’s weight at the rear end of the saddle. This saddle is designed to keep the rider’s foot in line with upper body. It is commonly used for gaited horses.

My Dressage saddle search led me to the Saint Lourdes saddles and Exselle saddles. I was looking for a good quality dressage saddle to use for everyday work. I found that the Saint Lourdes and Exselle saddles offer great quality with a reasonable price. The saddles have a laminated birchwood tree that is guaranteed for 5 years. I believe these brands are great for people looking to invest in a great saddle for a lower price.

I am also a member of ASPCA and a past committee member of Horses In California, an organization that helps kids with Autism learn to ride horses for therapy. I have decided to forward a percentage of each sale to these organizations to help horses, and kids with Autism, in need. So many cases of abuse towards horses goes unreported and unnoticed. I feel that giving back to our amazing partners in riding is something I can do to ensure these horses get help. Thank you for your support, and if you are not yet a member of ASPCA, please check out their website to see their great work with horse rescue and aid. Information about horseback riding for kids with Autism can be found at Horses In California, San Francisco, CA.

English riding saddles are used during horseback riding not necessarily limited to England or other English-speaking countries. Its main difference amongst other riding disciplines is in the design of the saddle where there is the notable absence of a horn or any other accessory that sticks out from the tree of the saddle. It was developed to give the horse and rider the utmost comfort and freedom during movement.

Considering Your Horse

Begin from its withers, or the highest point of your horse’s back which should fall between its shoulder blades. Feel your way down the spine for any tender spots or suspicious lumps. Pay particular attention to the areas where the riding saddle would come in direct contact with the horse. Any irregularities that are found could be injuries that can be aggravated by an ill fitted equestrian saddle.

Discomfort can be best detected when the horse is ridden under the saddle in question. This way, any unusual gaits indicative of discomfort would be exposed.

Positioning the Saddle

Knowing how to fit an English saddle requires learning how to position it properly on your horse. Fitting it too forward on its back hinders the movement of the shoulders. The tree points would also put constant pressure on its withers and cause great discomfort. Saddles set too far back are at risk of slipping sideways during a ride. Additionally, this can result to back injuries and even spinal damage.

The proper position of a saddle on a horse’s back is when it’s placed behind the shoulder blades. Make sure that the saddle panels don’t go past the horse’s last ribcage; else, it’s been set too low on its back. Prop your saddle on your horse’s withers and press down on the pommel until it slides just behind the shoulder blades. With constant fittings, you will eventually get a feel for its most natural position.

Choosing the Right Tree

The tree is the foundation for which the entire saddle is built on. It determines the angles, length, and overall shape of the saddle. Saddle trees are made of laminated wood and usually a standard size gullet. However, there will be instances when particular horses need specially designed saddle trees. Horses with protruding withers or angular backs require deeper arches in the tree design to minimize pressure on the back. Horses with a flatter back would need less arched tree designs.

Make sure that the tree also fits the horse perfectly and is parallel to the withers. Tree points are the rounded metal fittings at the front of the tree. If the points are too narrow, they can put pressure on the withers and shoulder muscles. Tree points that are too wide, however, will place the gullet too close to the horse’s withers. The gullet is the channel of space underneath the saddle that ensures that no stress is placed on the spine. Gullet width choice largely depends on your horse’s back. A narrow back requires a narrower gullet width; a wide, flat back requires a wider gullet width and channel.

The essence of knowing how to fit an English saddle is gauging the correct size of tree for your horse. In this aspect, compromises are almost impossible to make without affecting your horse’s health or performance. If the saddle doesn’t fit the way it should, it’s best to look for a different size.

Cushioning With Panels

The panels provide the cushion between your horse’s back and the hard saddle. It also keeps the rider balanced when they are seated. Apply pressure throughout the panels to look for any irregular pressure points that could cause soreness. Also check if pressure is well distributed when the saddle is set on the horse’s back by running your hand between the horse and the panels. Back panels should not rise from the horse’s back. Panels may be filled with foam rubber or wool flocking. The wool flocking should be checked for uneven wear and re-stuffed as needed.

Fitting for the Rider

Finally, an English saddle fit must be established during the rider’s fitting to be perfect for the horse. The lowest part of the saddle’s seat should be the narrowest part of the saddle in order to give the rider good balance. It needs to fit the rider’s pelvic structure to avoid discomfort.

For adequate support, stirrups should be an appropriate length so that the rider’s knees don’t go over the saddle flap or are set too far behind it. Saddle flaps vary in cut. A dressage saddle would feature a long, straight-cut flap because the horse does little to no jumping and moves around a flat environment. A jumping saddle, also known as a close contact saddle, features a shorter flap and stirrup length. The flaps have supportive kneepads to protect the rider during the jump position. The stirrups should also not have jutting pieces that could bruise either the rider or horse. Make sure that the safety release for the leathers is in working condition in case the rider falls.

Finally, take your horse for a ride. Warm up and test the saddle in a standard length ride. The saddle should be comfortable during the entire session. When your horse moves forward smoothly in a steady and constant gait, you know you have a winner.

Care and maintenance of horse saddles call for more than the quick soap-and-water approach. The material a horse riding saddle is made of is subject to fast deterioration when treated with the wrong set of chemicals or has been subjected to too many elements. This guide will help you preserve your horse riding saddle so that it sustains it quality for many years.

Owning a horse is a matter of esteem and respect. The care and training that goes into this investment is substantial, whether you own one for sport or pleasure. This amount of upkeep isn’t only reserved for the animal, but also for the equipment it uses regularly. Care and maintenance of horse saddles are especially important. It doesn’t matter if it’s an inexpensive saddle made of faux leather or if it’s one that costs thousands of dollars. The equestrian saddle is a crucial part of horseback riding that needs to be in top form in order to accomplish its purpose of supporting and protecting the rider and the horse.

The most basic maintenance tip is to keep your horse saddle clean. This way, dust or grime doesn’t build up into a serious muck that would require harsh soaps to remove. A toothbrush works well with getting the grime out of grooves and tight places. You can use warm water with mild glycerin soap to clean synthetic leathers. Calfskin leather care, however, requires conditioning saddle soap to keep the leather from darkening and becoming stiff.

A leather riding saddle also takes a bit of appreciation and diligence. Saddles, when wet from cleaning, rainwater, or otherwise, should be left to dry naturally. Applying direct heat in the hopes of speeding up the drying process could lead to cracking. When the saddle is nearly dry, cover (sparingly) with leather conditioner. To keep the leather soft, use natural neatsfoot oil so that it returns to its original flexibility. Coat the leather thoroughly with some light oil with a rag. To maintain shine, finish with glycerin soap on a damp sponge.

Regularly check for any signs of wearing. Leather is susceptible to breaks when used excessively. Ensure that stirrup leathers, billets, and other saddle parts stay in good condition. The interior foam padding or wool flocking of the saddle when worn out may also cause irregularities that can make your horse uncomfortable. Replace any worn or broken saddle pieces immediately and have wool flocked saddles checked and re-stuffed every year.

Finally, when not in use, hang your horse riding saddle on a rack so that it maintains its shape and so that its parts don’t get folded. A horse saddle’s shape is crucial to the comfort and safety of the horse. It also affects horse performance and temperament. Cover the hanging saddle with a saddle cover so that it’s free of dust.

Care and maintenance of english saddles doesn’t call for much in terms of money. What’s needed is your attention to detail and a great deal of love for your horse. With a saddle that’s properly cared for, riding will remain to be a very enjoyable pastime for you.

I remember shopping for a dressage saddle at Miller’s Tack Store in Redwood, WA when I was growing up in the Seattle area. It was such a fun experience to shop for dressage saddles, and that unforgettable new leather smell that hits you when you walk in the door made you realize you were in an amazing place I was ready to find everything I needed to look like the perfect hunter/jumper rider, and the tack to make you a better rider. Since then, tack shops have been harder to find, that offer the experience shopping for new english tack that will be perfect for me and my horses. I have found some amazing ones, like Greenway Saddlery in Phoenix, Mary’s Tack and Feed in San Diego and El Toro in Orange County, but usually now I just pick up what I need at the local horse show. When I needed a new horse riding saddle, I decided that I had to focus my research online because there just wasn’t enough tack stores in my Bay Area location to really shop. I was looking for an Ashland jumping saddle, preferably new that would be a good-value, lower investment saddle. I had seen one at a show and liked the quality and stitching of the leather. I desperately needed to retire my outdated, tired and worn out Crosby that had taken me to the schooling shows, but it was just done. So I had a list of brands, a price range and a fairly standard horse to fit, and decided to start shopping for riding saddles online. I am not an eBay person. I just felt like going from shopping in a store, sitting in a riding saddle in the store first and taking it home to try on the horse was miles away from buying from some unknown person on eBay where the saddle delivery and ability to return the saddle might (unlikely, I know!) but just might not work out. So online shopping with a a webstore that met my criteria seemed the best way.

Although it was outside my comfort zone, I tried shopping online for an english saddle. I was interested in a close contact saddle, the Ashland saddle. I found that the descriptions answered my questions about the style and how the saddle was best used. For instance I found that the Ashland Saddle (original) has as it’s standard tree a slightly wider gullet with a deeper cut-back head, which would fit my horse and allow for the sheepskin half pad I like to use. Also, the colors showed well on my monitor and I could make a definite choice of the texture and color I wanted. I could also clearly see that the stitching was very precise and it had some nice detailing. These were professional photos with some zoom capability. I decided I would try the Demo program and test out the saddle. I am thrilled to say it has been a smart purchase. I love the saddle, its high quality bridle leather, the stitching detail is great and the seat is plush. It’s a great value, I stayed within my budget but I feel like I can show at schooling shows with an added sense of pride that my tack looks good. Its a lesser-know brand in the US, although popular in England, and I get a lot of comments about its great style and questions about how to get one. TO BE CONTINUED….

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-Cara